Children: Care

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children in England, Scotland and Wales are currently in local authority care as a result of their parent or other principal carer being labelled as a sufferer of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, or of fabricated or induced illness by carers syndrome.

Lord Adonis: This information is not held centrally by the department.

Children: EU Accession Countries

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children are estimated to have entered England and Wales from those countries that joined the European Union in 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The noble Lord's Question was transferred to the Treasury on 30 January. The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.

Civil Service: Retirement Age

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the rationale for senior civil servants' retirement age being set at 65, while for most staff below those grades there is no default retirement age.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Unlike retirement age policies for staff below the senior Civil Service, retirement age for the members of the senior Civil Service (SCS) is not delegated to individual departments to decide but is managed centrally.
	Careful consideration was given to the impact on SCS management policies in light of the age regulations before the decision to adopt the national default age of 65 was taken. Departments and agencies and the Council of Civil Service Unions were consulted.
	It is important for the Civil Service to have the flexibility to manage talent in the SCS through, for example, promotion, deployment and recruitment. The decision to adopt a retirement age of 65 for the SCS enables the Civil Service to manage the SCS so that it has the right skills, experience and behaviours to meet the challenges faced by the 21st century Civil Service in delivering the Government's agenda. Having a retirement age of 65 does not mean that members of the SCS cannot request to work beyond that age.

Crossrail

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the promoters of the Crossrail Bill will submit a draft option agreement to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in respect of its proposed services on the great western and great eastern main lines; and whether the promoters' timetable for the passage of the Crossrail Bill through the House of Lords will allow for the ORR to have made a decision on the option agreement before the Bill is deposited there.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Crossrail access option is being negotiated with Network Rail with the aim of submitting it to the ORR for approval within a few weeks. The intention continues to be that the ORR's decision will be in time to inform affected petitioners for their appearances before the House of Lords Select Committee. Whether the decision can be at an earlier stage of the Bill depends on the time the ORR needs and progress with the Bill in the House of Commons.

Dangerous Dogs

Lord Bradley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people have been prosecuted under Section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 in England and Wales for each year since 1992; and
	How many people have been prosecuted in England and Wales under Sections 1(2)(a), 1(2)(d), 1(2)(e) and 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for each year since 1992.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts for the requested offences are shown in the attached table.
	Figures for 2006 will be available in the autumn.
	Information for Scotland is a matter for the Scotland Office and that for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office.
	
		
			 The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' court for offences relating to the Dangerous Dogs Acts 1989 and 1871 Section 2 and Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sections 1(2)(a), 1(2)(d), 1(2)(e) and 1(3) in England and Wales 1992-2005 (1) (2) (3) 
			 Statute Offence description 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1989. Dogs Act 1871 Sec. 2. Failure to comply with an order to keep a dog under proper control etc. Dangerous dog not kept under proper control. 889 609 551 510 513 492 454 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(2)(a). Breeding or breeding from a fighting dog. 31 9 1 1 5 1 5 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(2)(d). Allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or a lead. 187 74 24 20 12 12 7 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(2)(e). Abandoning, or allowing to stray, a fighting dog. 27 12 8 3 2 3 - 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(3). Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog. 209 167 57 35 18 15 23 
			 Total  1,343 871 641 569 550 523 489 
		
	
	
		
			 Statute Offence description 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1989. Dogs Act 1871 Sec. 2. Failure to comply with an order to keep a dog under proper control etc. Dangerous dog not kept under proper control. 401 462 374 336 335 352 306 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(2)(a). Breeding or breeding from a fighting dog. 1 2 1 6 4 15 3 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(2)(d). Allowing a fighting dog to be in a public place without a muzzle or a lead. 11 9 4 3 2 2 3 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(2)(e). Abandoning, or allowing to stray, a fighting dog. 2 - - 1 - - 1 
			 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 Sec. 1(3). Possession, without exemption, of a Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa or other designated fighting dog. 12 5 4 6 1 5 11 
			 Total  427 478 383 352 342 374 324 
			 - NIL 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. 
			 (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
			 (3) Staffordshire police force was able to submit sample data only for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. 
			 Our ref: PQ HL1625 and HL1626Source:  RDS Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Department for International Development: NGO Funding

Lord Lea of Crondall: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the funding of United Kingdom development-related non-governmental organisations comes from the Department for International Development.

Baroness Amos: DfID does not hold information on what proportion of the funding of UK development-related non-governmental organisations comes from DfID. However, in 2005-06, DfID provided grants to UK civil society organisations (CSO) for international development purposes amounting to £261 million.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January (WA 203-04), why human embryos rather than those of other species are used for basic research; whether such basic research necessarily requires the creation of additional human embryos; and whether they will now provide an Answer to the Question for Written Answer tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool (HL1046).

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government have proposed, as part of their review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, that the law will make clear that basic research involving human embryos is permissible, subject to controls.
	Schedule 2 to the Act sets out the activities for which licences may be granted. As specified in paragraph 3 of that schedule, licences for the purposes of a project of research involving human embryos cannot authorise any activity unless it appears to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to be research necessary or desirable for one or more of the purposes specified. Further, the law makes clear that no licence shall be granted unless the authority is satisfied that any proposed use of the embryos is necessary for the purposes of the particular research project.
	The Question for Written Answer tabled by Lord Alton of Liverpool (HL1046) was answered on 22 January (WA 203-04), together with HL1043, 1044 and 1045.

Firearms: Airsoft

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the commitment by the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety, Mr Tony McNulty, on 30 October 2006 (HC Deb, cols 49-50) that the Government would provide a defence from prosecution to those taking part in airsoft activities, and that the defence would be provided within regulations to be issued as a consequence of the provisions of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, what progress has been made in drafting those regulations; and what meetings they have had with organisations representing airsoft since October 2006 so that they may assist with the drafting of the regulations.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Officials are working closely with representatives of airsoft organisations on the drafting of the regulations and met with them most recently on 10 January. Good progress is being made in defining the defence in such a way that it will apply only to bona fide airsoft activities.

Firearms: Licensing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which police forces have now migrated to the National Firearms Licensing Management System, indicating the date on which each force went live and the dates on which the remaining forces are expected to join the system.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The information requested is given in the attached list.
	
		
			 Force GoLive Date 
			 Lancashire 16/06/2006 
			 Metropolitan Police 16/06/2006 
			 South Yorkshire 14/07/2006 
			 Lincolnshire 04/08/2006 
			 North Wales 11/08/2006 
			 Suffolk 08/09/2006 
			 Norfolk 08/09/2006 
			 Merseyside 15/09/2006 
			 South Wales 22/09/2006 
			 Cheshire 22/09/2006 
			 Cleveland 29/09/2006 
			 Humberside 29/09/2006 
			 Thames Valley 06/10/2006 
			 Derbyshire 06/10/2006 
			 Northumbria 13/10/2006. 
			 Cumbria 20/10/2006 
			 London, City of 17/11/2006 
			 West Yorkshire 17/11/2006 
			 Durham 24/11/2006 
			 Greater Manchester 01/12/2006 
			 Bedfordshire 01/12/2006 
			 Cambridgeshire 08/12/2006 
			 Surrey 08/12/2006 
			 Avon and Somerset 15/12/2006 
			 Warwickshire 12/01/2007 
			 Northamptonshire 12/01/2007 
			 Kent 19/01/2007 
			 Gwent 19/01/2007 
			 Hampshire 26/01/2007 
			 Nottinghamshire 26/01/2007 
			 Sussex 02/02/2007 
			 Dyfed-Powys 09/02/2007 
			 Wiltshire 09/02/2007 
			 West Midlands 16/02/2007 
			 Dorset 16/02/2007 
			 Hertfordshire 23/02/2007 
			 Devon and Cornwall 23/02/2007 
			 North Yorkshire 02/03/2007 
			 Essex 02/03/2007 
			 Gloucestershire 09/03/2007 
			 Leicestershire 09/03/2007 
			 Staffordshire 16/03/2007 
			 West Mercia 16/03/2007

Firearms: Licensing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to link the National Firearms Licensing Management System to the police national computer.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A data-cleansing exercise is needed before an interface with PNC can be successfully made. This is being carried out on a force by force basis after each has been migrated to NFLMS. Technical and financial assistance is being given. All forces expect to have completed this work by June 2007.

Firearms: Licensing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements are in place to link police forces in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The current NFLMS implementation programme covers all forces in England and Wales. So far, Scotland has not opted to join NFLMS but has augmented the existing firearms field on its criminal history system to include all the categories of information required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. They are considering how best to facilitate the exchange of information. Northern Ireland has its own separate firearms legislation and is not covered by these provisions.

Firearms: Licensing

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the main operational-use problems which have emerged with the roll-out of the National Firearms Licensing Management System.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Of the 31 forces so far implementing NFLMS, six have reported intermittent slow running of the system. Each of these forces is being assisted in investigating the problem and identifying a permanent solution. At the local level, work is going on in each force after migration to NFLMS to ensure that locally held data are cleansed. Technical and financial assistance is being given for this.

Gambling: Casinos

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why it was necessary for Mr Derek Aldridge of the Gaming Board to be present at a meeting of Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on 12 September 2003 at which plans for a "high profit casino" at the Millennium Dome were discussed.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Derek Aldridge was a member of the Gaming Board secretariat which administered applications for certificates of consent under the Gaming Act 1968. It was entirely proper for him to answer factual questions on the process and timetable in respect of a pending application for a certificate of consent. These questions were relevant to the Dome Sale Unit's ongoing risk appraisal of the Dome sale.

Gambling: Casinos

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House broad details of what the Gaming Board had scrutinised in relation to Mr Sol Kerzner's application for a casino licence, as agreed by Mr Derek Aldridge of the Gaming Board at his meeting with Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials on 12 September 2003.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The application by Kerzner Northampton Ltd was subject to the same level of scrutiny and investigation as any other certificate of consent application. This would have included detailed inquiries into the probity, integrity and financial standing of the applicants.
	Broad details of what inquiries are made in respect of applications for certificates of consent, along with the relevant application and declaration forms, are available on the Gambling Commission website (www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk). I am arranging for copies of these to be placed in the Library of the House.
	The Gaming Board's successor body the Gambling Commission has confirmed that it has no record of any specific information relating to the application from Kerzner Northampton Ltd being made available to officials from either the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Gambling: Casinos

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In connection with the application by Kerzner International for a casino licence in Northampton which was approved by the Gaming Board on 30 March 2004, whether any disclosures were made by Mr Sol Kerzner, Mr Jerry Horsea or Mr Tobin Prior of findings of guilt, including juvenile convictions, formal police reprimands, warnings and cautions no matter how long ago; and in checking the probity of Mr Sol Kerzner, how the Gaming Board investigated his alleged payment to the Prime Minister of Transkei.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The application satisfied the requirements of the Gaming Board in terms of personal information provided. It was subject to the same level of scrutiny and investigation as other certificate of consent applications. The Gaming Board's successor body the Gambling Commission has confirmed that it is unable to make public any personal details that have been provided to it as part of the licensing process.

Government Property: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which pieces of police estate in Northern Ireland have been disposed of since 1994; whether they will provide details of each property; and, in the case of each piece (a) how long the police service owned it; (b) from whom and at what cost it was acquired, if acquired since 1970; (c) how the disposal was conducted; (d) who purchased it from the police service; (e) what were the sale price and selling costs; and (f) where the resulting assets were placed.

Lord Rooker: All PSNI disposals are conducted through the Valuation and Lands Agency (VLA) in accordance with the central advisory unit disposal process. The information requested is set out in the table below. Vender and vendee details are omitted, given security and commercial considerations. Estate agents' costs, where applicable, are included under "selling costs". Selling costs exclude internal charges for PSNI, legal services and VLA.
	
		
			 Disposal Date Property Location Date of Acquisition Cost Acquired £ Method Price Sold £ Selling Costs £ 
			 03/05/1990 Disused Police Station Tynan Oct 1938 N/K VLA 55,000 3,632 
			 26/09/1994 487/489 Lisburn Road Belfast 01/07/1924 N/K VLA 210,000 0 
			 25/06/1995 Church Square Banbridge 01/12/1923 N/K VLA 90,000 835 
			 09/11/1995 Glenbank Belfast 15/10/1985 75,000 VLA 50,000 0 
			 xx/xx/1996 Springfield Parade Belfast 16/10/1956   20/04/1982 N/K VLA 90,000 3,580 
			 22/04/1996 Downshire Road Newry 18/06/1982 N/K VLA 100,000 2,250 
			 16/06/1996 13 Waveney Avenue Ballymena 17/08/1995 15,000 VLA 17,000 1,690 
			 28/07/1996 Land opposite station Plumbridge N/K N/K VLA 5,500 0 
			 28/04/1997 Spencer Road- Former Police Station Londonderry 20/01/1934 N/K VLA 95,000 0 
			 01/12/1998 Disused Police Station Warringstown 02/10/1961 N/K VLA 81,000 2,064 
			 15/12/1998 3 Cumberland Drive Dundonald 01/02/1954 N/K VLA 280,000 4,204 
			 09/02/1999 Disused Police Station Strangford 17/07/1939 N/K VLA 160,000 0 
			 16/09/1999 Disused Hilltop Site Straidkilly 10/06/1989 2,250 VLA 16,000 0 
			 05/11/1999 Former New Barnsley Station Belfast 18/04/1983 N/K VLA 450,000 0 
			 12/04/2000 Station 20/34 Clonfeakle Road Benburb 28/08/1956 N/K VLA 61,000 1,204 
			 29/08/2000 33a Castle Street Lisburn 27/11/1933 N/K VLA 197,000 7,295 
			 15/01/2001 Surplus Land at Rear of Site Clogher N/K N/K VLA 4,000 0 
			 19/09/2001 Ormiston Belfast 24/03/1975 200,000 VLA 9,000,000 0 
			 23/03/2004 Former Springfield Road Police Station Belfast 25/08/1888 N/K VLA 455,000 0 
			 14/01/2005 Queen Street Belfast 01/05/1933 N/K VLA 570,000 950 
			 29/06/2005 Former Police Station Castledawson 05/06/1957 N/K VLA 550,000 5,212 
			 06/09/2005 Former Police Station Corry Square Newry 03/07/1934 N/K VLA 730,000 0 
			 01/12/2005 Former Police Station Cullybackey 29/07/1949 N/K VLA 95,000 0 
			 17/02/2006 Andersonstown Belfast 01/11/1934 N/K VLA 400,000 0 
			 26/05/2006 Former Police Station Castlerock 13/03/1939 N/K VLA 630,000 3,069 
			 18/09/2006 13-15 Downpatrick Road Ardglass xx/09/1935 N/K VLA 300,000 0 
			 28/09/2006 Dungannon Road - Former Police Station Moy 25/03/1930 N/K VLA 200,000 0 
			 08/12/2006 Former Police Station Caledon 12/02/1940 N/K VLA 860,000 2,826.25 
			 08/01/2007 Former Police Station Tempo 15/04/1930 N/K VLA 220,000 0 
			 11/01/2007 Former Police Station Dromore(Ty) 08/12/1928 N/K VLA 630,000 1,406.33 
			 12/01/2007 Former Police Station Ballygawley 20/02/1929 N/K VLA 600,000 1,406.33

Health: Consultants

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the number of National Health Service hospital consultants in England in each year since 2001; and
	What assessment they have made of how the number of National Health Service hospital consultants in England compares with numbers of equivalent status in other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The number of the National Health Service hospital consultants in England in each year since 2001 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): All Medical and Dental Consultants by Year 
			 England at 30 September each year numbers (headcount) 
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
			 All Consultants 25,782 27,070 28,750 30,650 31,993 
			 Source:  The Information Centre for Health and Social Care Medical and Dental Workforce Census 
		
	
	There are no equivalent data from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to make a valid comparison to the number of hospital consultants in England.

Health: Mixed-sex NHS Wards

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the then Minister of Health, Hazel Blears, on 11 March 2002 (HC Deb, 847W), whether the compliance for privacy in mixed-sex wards, as set out in the Table of Mixed Sex Hospital Accommodation (Objective One) on the Department of Health's website, requires partitions which are permanent, rigid and fixed to the building structure.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Objective 1 requires that,
	"appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients".
	Good standards can be achieved in wards that are partitioned into bays, as long as screening is adequate to ensure that privacy is maintained. Partitions in this case should be permanent, rigid and fixed to the building structure.

Home Office: Reorganisation

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will issue a Green Paper on the proposed reorganisation and splitting of the Home Office, and allow for a period of public debate and consultation and the issuing of a White Paper before any Bill to implement such reorganisation is presented to Parliament.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Questions of changes to the machinery of government are decided by the Prime Minister. I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the Prime Minister in another place on Wednesday 24 January:
	"There are proposals that the Home Secretary has made, and we will make an announcement on those in the next few weeks".

House of Lords: Fair Trade Products

Lord Hoyle: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Further to his Written Answer on 22 January (WA 204-05), what steps are being taken to find other suppliers of fair trade bananas; and what liaison has taken place with the House of Commons Refreshment Department on this matter.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The House of Lords Refreshment Department is unable to purchase fair trade bananas at the required quantity of 5 kilogrammes or less from current suppliers. Research is being carried out to identify suppliers that may be able to provide quantities of this size. The House of Commons Refreshment Department purchases fair trade bananas in quantities of 18 kilogrammes per case which are sold in the Commons' cafeterias and restaurants. Discussions have begun into the possible purchase of fair trade bananas from the House of Commons in the event that a supplier for the House of Lords cannot be found.

House of Lords: Interns

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether guidance is available to Members of the House on the appropriate wage for interns employed by Members for parliamentary work; and, if so, whether such guidance draws attention to the current minimum wage.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The administration does not produce guidance for Members on the appropriate wage to be paid to interns employed by Members for parliamentary work.

Immigration: Unaccompanied Children

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What has been the weekly cost per head of supporting unaccompanied young asylum seekers in the London Borough of Hillingdon over the past three years; how many were in the care of Hillingdon social services; and to what extent they were supported by central government in each of those years.

Lord Adonis: Data on the weekly cost per head of supporting unaccompanied young asylum seekers in individual councils are not collected centrally. The number of unaccompanied asylum seekers who were looked after by the London Borough of Hillingdon at 31 March in each of the past three years is given below:
	
		
			 Children looked after who are unaccompanied asylum seekers at 31 March 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 1,2 
			  2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 Hillingdon 235 270 305 
			 1. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. 
			 2. To preserve confidentiality, local authority figures have been rounded to the nearest five. 
		
	
	Local authorities, and not central government, provide support to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, in accordance with their legal responsibilities under the Children Act 1989.

Local Government: Social Care Funding

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their assessment of the funding pressures facing local authorities in regard to the delivery of adult social care.

Baroness Andrews: The Government looked carefully with local government at the cost pressures facing local authorities in both 2006-07 and 2007-08, including those in the area of adult social care, and the ways that those pressures can be managed. The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2007-08, being the second year of a two-year settlement, provides an increase in government grant of £3.1 billion or 4.9 per cent on the previous year. This includes an extra £508 million above existing spending plans following the joint work with local government. It will allow authorities to provide effective services without the need to impose excessive council tax increases, and ensures that every individual authority with social services responsibilities gets an increase in grant of at least 2.7 per cent.
	The Government are again working with local authorities in the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 to assess the pressures councils face from 2008-09 onwards, including those that arise in the delivery of adult social care.

National Insurance

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current total balance of the national insurance reserve fund.

Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer the noble Lord to Section 4 Table 2 of the report by the Government Actuary on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2007 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2007 (Cm 7021).

Northern Ireland Assembly: Deceased Members

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 10 January (WA 101) concerning the votes of deceased Members in the Northern Ireland Assembly, who can exercise such a vote where the deceased Member was the only representative of his or her party.

Lord Rooker: In relation to the Transitional Assembly established by Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006, Standing Orders 17(h) and 17(i) provide that the nominating officer of the party of the member that held the seat on the vacancy occurring shall be entitled to exercise that vote. "Nominating Officer" is defined in Standing Order 22 (a) as
	"(i) The person registered as nominating officer under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 as the party's nominating officer; or (ii) a Member of the Assembly nominated by him for the purposes of this Standing Order."
	In cases where the nominating officer is not an MLA himself/herself, it is assumed that the nominating officer shall exercise that vote by nominating a serving MLA under Standing Order 22 (a)(ii) to act as nominating officer for that purpose. Standing Orders will be amended shortly to make this clearer.

Official Gifts: Mr Philip Anschutz

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What presents, gifts or mementoes purchased with public funds any official from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister's private office has given to Mr Philip Anschutz or any of his associates during the course of their meetings, including the Deputy Prime Minister's visit to Mr Anschutz's ranch in July 2005.

Baroness Andrews: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 February (Official Report, col. WA 77).

Palestine: International Interim Mechanism

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sums have so far been spent for the benefit of the Palestinian people as a result of the International Interim Mechanism.

Baroness Amos: To date over €152 million has been spent through the Temporary International Mechanism to provide direct assistance to the Palestinian people. The UK has made available up to £12 million. So far, we have spent £9.7 million. These funds are being used to provide essential health supplies, allowances for the poorest Palestinian government workers, and to help sustain water, sanitation and electricity services.

Passports

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a United Kingdom passport holder who has changed his or her name may continue to use the passport in his or her previous name.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As stated in my reply of 19 January 2007 to a previous Question, there is no legal obligation for a person who has changed their name to surrender their existing passport until they apply for a replacement. However, airlines and other international passenger carriers would be unlikely to allow boarding where a name in a person's passport differed from that on their ticket.

People Trafficking

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will sign the Council of Europe convention against human trafficking within the next few months.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prime Minister announced on 22 January the Government's intention to sign this convention.

Police: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What, on appointment, was the investigative or judicial experience of the present Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.

Lord Rooker: The detailed information requested by the noble Lord is exempt from disclosure under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However I can confirm that, on appointment, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland did comply with the requirements stipulated in the job specification.

Roads: Dartford Crossing

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What work they have undertaken regarding the health impact of the Dartford Crossing on those communities living close by.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer that I gave him on 30 January (Official Report, col. WA 40).

Roads: Londonderry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals they have to improve traffic flow in Londonderry.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the noble Lord in response to this Question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question regarding what proposals they have to improve traffic flow in Londonderry. As this issue falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
	As you may be aware, the regional development strategy (RDS) for Northern Ireland contains a policy to strengthen the role of Londonderry as the regional city and hub for the north-west. The regional transportation strategy proposed two transport plans, the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTNTP) and the Sub-Regional Transport Plan (SRTP), as the mechanism for implementation of the RDS outside the Belfast Metropolitan Area with regard to all modes of transport.
	The RSTNTP deals with the main strategic routes into and through Londonderry and this plan was published in March 2005. An enhanced list of schemes for inclusion in the RSTNTP was published for consultation on 31 July 2006 with a response date of 29 September 2006. The full details of the major works schemes included in the plan can be viewed on our website at www.roadsni.gov.uk/consultation/docs/ConsultationDoc_SRI_Prog.pdf or copies are also available in both the House of Commons and House of Lords Libraries. The responses are currently being considered and it is hoped that an announcement of the final proposals will be made later this year. The schemes included in the current RSTNTP and draft proposals would upgrade sections of all the major routes approaching the city.
	The SRTP deals with the whole of Northern Ireland, excluding the Belfast Metropolitan Area and the routes included in RSTNTP. A section has been developed for Londonderry and includes a detailed study of all modes of transport (walking, cycling, public transport and traffic) within the city. The draft document was issued for public consultation in March 2006 with a reply date of 23 June 2006. Full details of the draft plan can be viewed on our website at www.roadsni.gov.uk/consultation/docs/ExecSummary.pdf or copies are also available in both Libraries. It is planned to publish the SRTP at the end of March 2007.
	These two transport plans will contain the main proposals for improving traffic flows and addressing other transportation issues for the city and its environs for the period to 2015.

Schools: Global Citizenship

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What significance they give to an understanding of global citizenship in the school curriculum; and what progress is being made in ensuring that this significance is adequately reflected in the curriculum.

Lord Adonis: The Government give great significance to the role of citizenship education in preparing young people to become global citizens. Through the compulsory secondary curriculum for citizenship, pupils are taught about the world as a global community and the wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility. Sir Keith Ajegbo's recent Diversity and Citizenship Curriculum report highlighted the fact that global citizenship is an "increasing imperative". The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has been undertaking a review of the secondary national curriculum, including citizenship education. The draft programmes of study will be subject to a public consultation from 5 February 2007 until 30 April 2007 and views on the issue of global citizenship can be expressed as part of this consultation.

Schools: Sport

Baroness Verma: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 21 November 2006 (WA 3) on training places allocated for physical education teachers in England, what is their assessment of the extent to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposal of 24 October 2006 that the number of curriculum hours allocated to sport for all United Kingdom school children will increase to at least four hours per week by 2010 is achievable.

Lord Adonis: The Government announced their long-term ambition for PE and school sport in December 2004. The main aim is that, by 2010, all children will be offered at least four hours of sport a week. This will comprise two hours of high-quality PE and sport at school, and the opportunity for at least a further two to three hours beyond the school day, delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.
	This ambition will be delivered through the network of school sport partnerships set up as part of the national Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links strategy. Further details of the delivery of this ambition will be announced following the outcome of the next Comprehensive Spending Review.

Schools: Sport

Baroness Verma: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have to support the statement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Support to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November 2006 that two-thirds of primary school children in this country will be expecting to take part in the Olympic Games and half of them are expecting to be medal winners; and whether there is adequate access to coaching and facilities in British schools in order to achieve these aspirations.

Lord Adonis: The statement made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November was based on her experience of visiting primary schools up and down the country. The joint DfES/DCMS national strategy for PE and school sport is already addressing the aspirations of young people regarding the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	The Government are investing heavily to provide adequate access to coaching and sports facilities in schools. Between 2003-04 and 2007-08, the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport and for Education and Skills will have invested £70 million in sports coaching.
	The Building Schools for the Future programme, which aims to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school over the next 15 years, and the Primary Capital Programme starting in 2008, both provide funding to build well designed PE and sport facilities where they are needed.

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2006: Designation of Land

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When designating a site under Section 128(3)(c) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, what criteria they use to assess whether the level of threat to national security is sufficient to justify designation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: National security is not defined in law. To do so would hinder flexibility in dealing with new and emerging threats. It is recognised by domestic and European courts that, within a wide margin of discretion, it is for the Secretary of State to decide matters of national security.

Shipping: MSC "Napoli"

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will hold a public inquiry into the beaching of the cargo ship "Napoli" and the preceding decisions not to tow the stricken ship to closer ports of refuge either in the United Kingdom or in France.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My honourable friend the Minister of State for Transport, the Minister with responsibility for shipping, made it clear on 21 January that he considered there was no need for a public inquiry.

Slavery

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will go beyond the recent statement of regret made by the Prime Minister for the country's involvement in the slave trade prior to the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.

Baroness Amos: In addition to the Statement made by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on 28 November 2006 (Official Report, col. WS 103-4), my right honourable friend the Prime Minister announced on 22 January 2007 the Government's intention to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings. Signature of the convention will strengthen support for victims and introduce measures to prevent trafficking. He also announced a series of events over the coming months to commemorate the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to prevent the harassment and intimidation of international personnel in Darfur, including attacks on United Nations' and non-governmental organisations' compounds, and to stop the spread of communicable diseases both in Western Sudan and its immediate neighbours.

Baroness Amos: Humanitarian agencies are struggling in exceptionally and increasingly difficult circumstances to deliver vital aid to those in need in Darfur. The Secretary of State for International Development issued a statement on 26 January 2007 condemning the abuse UN and NGO humanitarian staff were subjected to in Nyala, south Darfur by the Sudanese security forces and calling on the Government of Sudan to bring those responsible to account.
	We are working with all sides to the conflict to ensure the ability of humanitarian agencies to operate freely, securely and without constraint. We are calling on all sides to cease the violence immediately, renew the ceasefire and political process, and accept the AU/UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.
	Sporadic outbreaks of communicable diseases, such as meningitis and cholera, have taken place in Darfur in recent years. Due to the presence of so many international aid agencies, however, the response has been swifter and more effective than in many other parts of Sudan. A concern is outbreaks in areas now too insecure for aid agencies to operate.
	DfID channels most of its humanitarian funds through the Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), which was key in tackling a cholera outbreak in 2006. In 2007, 10 per cent of the CHF (approximately £70 million, of which DfID's contribution is £40 million) will be set aside for emergency response.

Taxation

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total tax take in each county in England in the past financial year, broken down by different forms of taxation; and
	What proportion of money is spent by the public sector in Essex compared to the overall level of money collected in taxation within Essex in the past financial year; and
	What is the estimated total public spend per head of population in each county in England in the past financial year.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The available information on income tax is published by HMRC in table 3.13 "Income and tax, by county and region", available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income distribution/menu-by-year.htm. Regional stamp duty receipts attributable to residential property are also published by HMRC, available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp duty/tablel5-2.pdf. The Government have made no estimates of aggregate taxes at county level. Neither total nor per capita public spending estimates are available at the county level.

Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 26 January (WA 271-72), whether new trucks, which are 7.5 tonnes and over and are intended for use only within the United Kingdom, will be required to be fitted with retro-reflective tape, as set down in United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 48.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Yes.

Water Supply: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On whose authority the special adviser to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland expressed critical remarks to the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Consumer Council concerning the council's call for water charges legislation to be left to the Assembly.

Lord Rooker: All activities of the NIO special advisers are in accordance with the code of conduct and under the authority of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	In relation to water charges legislation, there has already been a one-year delay in the introduction of these long overdue reforms. Any additional delay would mean:
	there would be an immediate public expenditure shortfall of £80 million to £90 million as a result of the loss of anticipated revenue;that Northern Ireland is likely to lose the RRI borrowing power which is currently contributing £200 million of investment in Northern Ireland's infrastructure earning year;that we would continue to ask taxpayers in GB to pay more in taxes while people in NI continue to contribute only around half what people in England, Scotland and Wales pay;there would be increased risk of costly infraction if Crown immunity is not removed; andthere would be a loss of the wider benefits which water reform will bring to customers and the environment.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proposals Waterways Ireland have as capital projects this year; and when each will be completed.

Lord Rooker: The table below details Waterways Ireland capital projects in 2007.
	
		
			 Navigations Works Estimated Completion 
			 Barrow Slipway at Bagenalstown November 2007 
			  Graiguenamanagh Dry Dock 2008 
			 Grand Canal Refurbishment Grand Canal Dock Long-term project extending beyond 2007 
			 Royal Canal Longford and Begnagh Bridges April 2007 
			  Lyneen and Mosstown Bridges Late 2007/Early 2008 
			  Lock 45 and Culverts December 2007 
			 Shannon Mooring at Kilglass December 2007 
			  Replace section of Portumna Bridge December 2007 
			  Extension to Annagh Upper towards Dowra Dependent on planning process 
			  Extend navigation to Glasson December 2007 
			 Erne System Navigational Signage December 2007 
			  Install Jetties March 2008 
			 Lower Bann Navigational Signage December 2007 
			  Install Jetties March 2008 
			  Depot at Portna March 2008 
			 Shannon-Erne Waterway Patroller Facility March 2008 
			 Various Number of projects on which small amount of works remain from 2006 During 2007 
		
	
	Feasibility Studies: During 2007 there are also a number of smaller projects at feasibility study and planning stage.
	HQ Building: In 2007 it is anticipated that works on the new Waterways Ireland headquarters building will commence.